(Newser)
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News of Jon Stewart's departure from The Daily Show arrived before the show aired last night. But those in the studio audience hadn't heard the news when last night's episode was taped earlier in the day, and it seems they were caught unawares. Stewart announced that he was leaving the show later this year, noting that "17 years is the longest I've held a job, by 16 years and five months." He noted, "I'm not going anywhere tomorrow," but he got a bit emotional, saying, "This show doesn't deserve even a slightly restless host, and neither do you." He then eased the pain for himself and the audience with a film of a chimpanzee washing a cat. Click for celebrity reactions to Stewart's departure.